Drosophila in Developmental Biology—Past, Present and Future

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
2. Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, Singapore 138527, Singapore
Interests: WNT; Drosophila; embryology; development; aging; metabolism; stem cells
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the resounding success of our previous Special Issue titled "Drosophila - A Model System for Developmental Biology", it is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of the second edition of this Special Issue.

Over a century since Thomas Hunt Morgan established Drosophila as a premier organism for biological research, we continue to witness its profound impact across a myriad of fields. Drosophila's versatility in modeling development, aging, disease, homeostasis, stem cell dynamics, neurogenesis, and neurodegeneration underscores its enduring relevance in contemporary scientific inquiry. Alongside Drosophila, the humble nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is as another stalwart in the realm of genetic analysis, offering invaluable insights into fundamental biological processes.

In the wake of advancements such as CRISPR/Cas9 and the burgeoning demand for human-cell-based experiments, invertebrate models face renewed scrutiny and adaptation. Yet, amidst these challenges, they remain indispensable tools for unraveling the complexities of development, aging, and disease.

Building upon the solid groundwork laid by our inaugural edition, the second edition of this Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advancements in developmental biology concerning Drosophila. We invite contributions that delve into a broad spectrum of topics, including, but not limited to:

  • Regulation of cell proliferation and cell cycle dynamics;
  • Tissue and organ development and programmed cell death;
  • Neurobiology and synaptic plasticity;
  • Cellular processes such as autophagy, apoptosis, and signal transduction;
  • Host–microbe interactions and innate immunity;
  • Genetics and epigenetics of aging;
  • Drosophila as a model for human diseases;
  • Oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and longevity;
  • Genome-wide analyses and high-throughput methodologies;
  • Expression and functional roles of small RNAs.

We welcome researchers from various disciplines and backgrounds to contribute their insights and discoveries to this Special Issue. By collectively exploring the endless opportunities presented by Drosophila, we aim to deepen our understanding of biological mechanisms and stimulate future research directions.

We eagerly anticipate your response.

Dr. Nicholas Tolwinski
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • drosophila
  • development
  • aging
  • C. elegans
  • signaling
  • metabolism
  • lipidomics
  • neurobiology
  • stem cells
  • model organism

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

12 pages, 4287 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Predictions of Mef2-Mediated Chromatin Loops, Which May Inhibit Ubx Binding by Blocking Low-Affinity Binding Sites
by Katrin Domsch
J. Dev. Biol. 2024, 12(4), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/jdb12040033 - 9 Dec 2024
Viewed by 268
Abstract
Gene regulation depends on the interaction between chromatin-associated factors, such as transcription factors (TFs), which promote chromatin loops to ensure tight contact between enhancer and promoter regions. So far, positive interactions that lead to gene activation have been the main focus of research, [...] Read more.
Gene regulation depends on the interaction between chromatin-associated factors, such as transcription factors (TFs), which promote chromatin loops to ensure tight contact between enhancer and promoter regions. So far, positive interactions that lead to gene activation have been the main focus of research, but regulations related to blocking or inhibiting factor binding are also essential to maintaining a defined cellular status. To understand these interactions in greater detail, I investigated the possibility of the muscle differentiation factor Mef2 to prevent early Hox factor binding, leading to the proper timing of regulatory processes and the activation of differentiation events. My investigations relied on a collection of publicly available genome-wide binding data sets of Mef2 and Ubx (as the Hox factor), Capture-C interactions, and ATAC-seq analysis in Mef2 mutant cells. The analysis indicated that Mef2 can form possible chromatin loops to Ubx-bound regions. These regions contain low-affinity Ubx binding sites, and the chromatin architecture is independent of Mef2’s function. High levels of Ubx may disrupt the loops and allow specific Ubx bindings to regulate defined targets. In summary, my investigations highlight that the use of many publicly available data sets enables computational approaches to make robust predictions and, for the first time, suggest a molecular function of Mef2 as a preventer of Hox binding, indicating that it may act as a timer for muscle differentiation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drosophila in Developmental Biology—Past, Present and Future)
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